Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Understand that while many soldiers in the +Israel Defense Forces are in a life-and-death scenario much of the time, they are part of a policy which is meant to dehumanize and excuse various acts of genocide towards the Palestinian people. I read this article on +Addicting Info and I personally find it sickening.

Read it for yourselves, and leave any commentary either on this blog post, or hit me up with your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter.

This is not a new issue, but more of an ongoing theme. The real reason for the need of voter ID laws as stringent as those in states governed by the +GOP: to prevent likely-to-hardcore Democratic voters (youth, minorities, single women, etc.) from going to the polls. This is one of the clearest forms of cheating in the history of election rigging.

This is not a surprise, but it's aggrivating to know that the Republicans will quit at nothing to dilute and ultimately destroy +The Democrats, and what they stand for. It's also happening, as demographics in our democratic/federal system are not on the Republicans' side. White (European) Americans are becoming a shrinking demographic in America, and other racial minorities are becoming the new majority. This is a massive problem for the Republicans in the sense that they count on the support of European Americans to keep them in power.

Additionally, the Republicans have no ideas for moving this country forward. Because they lack ideas, they can't compete for power against the Democrats, in the arena of politics and policymaking. They know this, and their way of making sure they stay in power: voter suppression. By suppressing the vote, and making voting more confusing for the electorate at-large, the Republicans can count on a low-to-very-low voter turnout. Only in low-turnout elections do Republicans perform very well.

Just remember this if you're in a state with a Republican Governor. Don't be surprised if you find yourself being intimidated to vote Republican if you want to remain alive.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Let me start by saying that voting for a full Republican-controlled Congress is a disaster (potentially a nuclear one) waiting to happen. I don't mean to scare anyone with that kind of language, but it's the solid truth.

I want to begin by going back to the days of the GW Bush Administration and the extremism it launched in the aftermath of 09/11/2001, and look to that time period's strong entry into what would become the biggest bout of American nationalism/patriotism and militarism at home and abroad. If you were born before the year 1997, you'd remember the chaos of that ghastly Tuesday morning in September 2001, and the messages President +George Bush and Congressional leaders gave later on that same day. Needless to say, everyone was scared and infuriated by the attack, and there was a quickly and strongly growing desire for revenge. Revenge for the attack on our civilization, values, beliefs, etc., and a desire to take out the people responsible for the loss of many civilian lives. This desire for revenge fed into the Neo-Conservatives' narration for the need of permanent warfare and the need to take out the "Axis of Evil" that threatened everyone living in civilization. At first this meant the Taliban and its Al-Qaeda allies in Afghanistan, but soon evolved into Iraq, Iran and North Korea, the Neocons' 3 top targets. I think we can see where this evolution went, especially going into the Fall of 2002 and Spring of 2003, The Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

Of course many wonder: "But +Jgsf1987, how does this tie back to the Republicans today?" A very observant question that requires a more illustrious answer. Many of the same Republicans in Congress today, folks like +Senator Lindsey Graham and +Senator Richard Burr, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the War in Iraq and for its supplemental funding outside of the national budget. In addition, many of these same figures, were egging the conversation onward that the Neocons presented that we need to be on a permanent war setting and be prepared to invade any country that even slightly disagreed with us. This meant provoking other nations unnecessarily, those with which we had peaceful, but slightly tense relations with. These were nations like Russia under the leadership of +Vladimir Putin, China under +Jiāng Zémín, and North Korea under +Kim Jong Il.

Today, many of these same figures are calling for a return of troops to Iraq, as well as the placement of troops into Syria and also Iran. That's in addition to permanently extending the tax-breaks of the Bush Administration for the very wealthiest Americans and American corporations, which are bankrupting us. Another aspect to bear in mind is that these same folks running the Republican Party are seeking to destroy the system of Civil Rights and the safety net propping up the very poorest among us. Doing this is going to put even more strain on the economy, and will only pull it downward. Also, look to whom they pay greater credence to: Big Oil, which includes the Koch Brothers. Think of it this way, you want to be able to have decent medical care, clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, clean food to eat, etc.? Don't vote for the +GOP, as they want to get rid of any and all safety regulations that are meant to keep us alive.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Think of the Robber Barons of times old, and you'll be able to understand what we're up against with the Koch Brothers throwing their weight around. Just like during the Gilded Age when wealthy corporate tycoons tried to purchase government influence, the same is happening right now.

Here's another way of explaining it: think of all the arguments made by the Republicans in favor of increased wealth concentration and how it will trickle down to us somewhere down the line. This is the same specious argument they've been making whenever their conservative wing assumes power. The last time anyone remembers the promise of Reganomics, it was that we would see everyone prosper with a lighter money supply. Yeah, 3 decades later, we're still digging ourselves out of a hole due in part to this economic theorum.

Well, combine the explanation for the calls of returning to supply-side economics, with the fact that many of these same wealthy individuals, feel it's their duty to fight the so-called "culture wars", as a means of denying people their rights, or to unleash an unconscienable target for people's pent up rage. This is sickening, and should not be who we are as a people. In any event, this is exactly what the Koch Brothers are looking to do, in addition to some of their friends. Think of the Walton Family of +Walmart as another example of right-wing extremism.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Here's something that's been really turning me and a good majority of Americans off about +Fox News, and the Right-wing in general, the obvious showings of overt racism on the air. As I said in a previous post, this is exactly like reliving the 1960s.

I'm not about to blame the President for this uptick in overt racist commentary, as he can't control any of it (it is protected by the 1st Amendment, provided it doesn't incite violence). I do, however, blame the +GOP for courting the formerly racist-wing of +The Democrats, and fully giving them control over the past few decades. What the heck happened to the party of fiscal and social moderation? It's like it's been replaced by a party of hardened extreme theocrats looking to impose their values on everyone.

Moreover these theocrats are seeking to impose White Supremacy again! Big mistake, in my eyes. It won't fly in the eyes of the American public. Our national strength comes from our diversity. It's an asset, not a hinderance! However, it won't stop the +GOP's racist wing (aka +The Tea Party) from doing so. How? By claiming freedom of religion, and that anti-discrimination laws (i.e., the +Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, etc.) violate their right to free religious beliefs, and the right to decide how to run their own business.

It's this same excuse, and the newly found medium in +Fox News to broadcast the excuse, that allows the extremists to continue calling for more ways to undermine any and all civil rights legislation.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

I'll start by saying that the bus ride to work faced a major delay due to a protest in solidarity with the protesters in Hong Kong. The protesters in San Francisco were staging their event at the Chinese Consulate (located on Geary & Laguna) by first marching over to it and then rallying in the street right in front.

Needless to say this tied up traffic, but as inconvenient as protests can be sometimes, they're necessary to prove a point. The point the protesters were making earlier: China should live up to its agreement to retain Hong Kong's democratic governmental structure as had been decreed when the British left in 1997.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

I'm aware that the election is coming up very soon, and that we're in for a really wild outcome. One thing to bear in mind this time is why we need to refrain from voting for the +GOP this time. Let's bear in mind the fact that the Republicans want to turn America into an oligarchic kleptocracy, like Vladimir Putin runs in Russia, and wants to roll back the clock to about the 1830s. We don't need to go back that far, and we need a government that's transparent and accountable to the voting public. And by rolling the clock back to about the 1830s, I'm saying that they want to disenfranchise everyone, but White, Protestant men and strip away all other rights. Additionally, they're looking to start a campaign of genocide against those who are non-White (think of who's a part of the +GOP base - it'd be a non-surprise to know that many happen to be from the White supramcist movement), and don't be too shocked if they try to carry through with it. Many of the folks in +The Tea Party (a good chunk of the +GOP base), also fall into the category of White supremacy advocates and followers, and come from groups that advocate such positions like the +John Birch Society and the +Ku Klux Klan.

In terms of economic policy, many of these same people are looking to drive everyone into a financial hole just to allow big companies like +McDonald's, +BURGER KING, +Koch Industries, etc., to make a quick buck with our tax dollars and get a bigger break in their on-going scam of evading taxes. We can't continue on this path, and we need to grow the economy in order to get ourselves out of the mess left behind by +george w bush's administration.

So just to recap if you would like more racism/more legislated hate, more corruption, more inequality, vote for the +GOP. If you'd like to make more progress (despite it being frustratingly slow), vote for +The Democrats.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

I have to say that I was way creeped out yesterday on my way home from work. I just happened to run into a figure who I've seen a lot on +Stanley Roberts' +People Behaving Badly segment on +KRON 4: Evil Elmo (aka, Adam Sandler). I saw him just outside the Powell St. Muni/BART station, and I have to say that he was a lot bigger than I thought. The reason I find him intimidating is not because of his size (My Pop's like 5-6 inches taller than me), but because of the fact that he's known to get exceedingly aggressive with almost no warning and does so at little kids and their families. Just seeing him outside the +Flood Building was enough to give me the willies. I managed to get a photo of him by the Cable Car Turn-around in front of the +Gap on Powell and Market.

Enclosed is a video of him in Times Square, with a warning: be prepared for some graphic language (he makes a lot of Anti-Semitic and Anti-Hindu Remarks). Let's just be clear this is not any Elmo you want near your kids. If he approaches you, don't give him anything. If he gets aggressive, find the nearest officer from the +SFPD.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

I found the mail I got yesterday on the dinkng room table, and next thing I see, a flier addressed to me saying, "Vote No On 45". So naturally, it'd be wise to look at who's funding that flier, and unsurprisingly, 1 name shows up: Blue Shield of California. This is a complete non-surprise as the company's looking to avoid any kind of premium rate regulation so that it continue bilking us at almost 3-5x the inflation rate. Do yourselves a favor and vote Yes On 45. Your wallets will thank you.

Friday, October 3, 2014

I have to take a moment to pause and reflect, and remember the lady that brought me into this world, my Mom. I can think of no lady who's been there fighting there beside me and behind me, no matter what happens. I always would want my Mom to know that I appreciate everything that she does for me, and that I always have her in my thinking as I'm moving on with my life.

I just know that I'll always appreciate the fact that no matter what, I can always count on my Mom.